, 1887-05-03
DISCUSSION.
AResoIution to LegisIate the Lords
Prayer Out of the School,
Which Was Almost Unanimously
Showed Under"
The Annual Election Voorhees, and
Hicks Reelected Trustees.

scnool DOaru, al ~ o CLOCK yesterday
morning. The meeting was organized for
the purpose of election by the selection of
A. L. Brown, &. P. Snow and Chas. +.
Coffee as Judges of election, and Messrs.
B. F. Closson and C. NJ. Lsrsh as clerks.
On motion the order of business undeI
which the reports of officers were to be
heard, appropriations to be made. etc.,
was fixed at the hour of 2 p. III.
A communication was read from w. S.
Hurlbut, stating that he was not a can
didate for school trustee and would not
serve if elected, Mr.. Mast presenting and
and reading the communication.
Mr.. Mast introduced a resolution re-
quiring school books to be purchased
direct from the publishers, which he stated
would be a great saving to the people of
the district. The resolution was laid over
until 2 o'clock.
N. J. O'Brien called uD the matter of
repeating the Lords prayer in the public
schools. Prof. Churchill stated in answer
to a question that the Lords prayer was
not read in n of the departments, but in
some it was repeated by the teachers and
such pupils as saw fit to Join; this. how
ever, was a matter which he had not here
tofore had control Of. Mr.. O'Brien was
much opposed to it end said that he APP
peared there at the request of many citi-
gems who were also opposed to 1t. Presi
dent Voorhees, stated hat the board had
never authorized this to be done, and if it
was being done the board would investi.
gate it. Col. Snow called attention to
the fact that the board had adopted a res
luton three years ago prohibiting n
sort of religious exercises in the public
schools. Mr.. Hicks also made a few re-
marks in keeping with those made by Mr..
Voorhees,. Mr.. O'Brien spoke again and
in the course of his remarks stated among
other things that if he had any religion at
all he was a Catholic. President Voor-
hees stated that in an explanation made
by Father Nugent at one of the meetings
of the Territorial Teachers Institute, that
gentleman had stated that the Catholics
we're opposed to the public schools not be-
cause religion was taught therein but
because they did not teach any form of
religion. Prof. Churchill stated that he
had never told the teachers not to repeat
the Lords PRAYER and that he would be
ashamed of himself had he done so. Mr..
Mast believed it was right enough to have
the Lords prayer repeated in the public
schools; it would not do his children any
harm to learn it or any other things about
the churches. Mr.. O'Brien asked whether
Prof. Churchill would read Tom Paine's
Age of Reason" in the public schools.
Prof. Churchill-"Certainl I would not"
Mr.. Potter didn't see what harm there
could be in repeating the Lords prayer in
the public schools; the Lords prayer was
not intended for any particular form of
religion. If any of the children were idol
worshippers they could bring their idols to
school. He for one would not object.
At this point further consideration OF
the matter was deferred until 2 p. m.
The election was proceeded with and was
virtually a one sided affair, though a few
voted for Abry and Hurlbut, but Voor-
bees and Hicks received tho bulk of the
votes.
At 2 O'Clock p. NJ. the business matters
connected with the annual meeting were
taken up for consideration. The report
of the school board was read by Clerk S.
j. Quinby, which was accepted and or
dered filed. From the report it was
learned that the expenditures for the past
year have been s25, 4s4 Sc, and that there
is now a balance on hand of $7,774.s2.
A portion Of the amount expended was,
of course, for schools outside OF the city,
but within the school district. The re-
port of Treasurer Hicks was also read by
that gentleman and was also placed on
file. The appropriations for the ensuing
school year were then made as follows:
Teachers deficiency fund...........$3 500
School house fund, which includes
repairing and many other ex-
Stationary etc 100
Books and contingent fund.-" 600
District library fund.......""....... 100
Real estate ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $500
1t should DO explained here that it is
expected that nearly $4,000 will be re-
ceived for the payment of teachers from
the two mill tax" so that the de
icienoy fund" does not mean a fund for
the purpose of making payment for
something wherein the district Is behind
it means simply to make up in addi-
ton to the $l7.O the sun which will
be required for the paymen tof school
teachers during the coming year.
The question of building a new school
house in the eastern portion of the city
then came up and ELECTED much discussion,
not on the propriety Of building
but how it could be paid for. 1t was fin
ally voted that the board be Authorized to
take the necessary steps toward the cree
ton of q school house, its cost not to ex-
Ath mn IL o.on 81 ha taIan hnuu-